Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi in Himachal Pradesh has introduced a Smart Road Monitoring System with the goal of reducing manual traffic management and preventing accidents at sharp or blind turns. The research team reveals that incorporating Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and Internet of Things (IoT) into the system enables it to provide speed detection, vehicle counts, improved traffic control and road usage. Two layers of detection units on each side of the turn and two signalling units to alert the drivers make up the monitoring system, explained K V Uday, Assistant Professor at IIT Mandi. The sensing system detects the speed, direction, and type of the vehicle as it passes through the two successive layers of detection units. If the vehicle is approaching the turn, the detected direction is confirmed, and a corresponding signal is displayed on the opposite side to warn drivers of an approaching vehicle. No signal is displayed if the vehicle moves away from the curve. The signals are emitted based on the speed, direction, gradient of slope and type of vehicle. The cost of the system prototype development, excluding the alerting units per curve, is Rs 20,000. Researchers are now working to reduce the overall product cost by lowering operating and maintenance costs, as well as utilising other energy sources to make the system self-sustaining using solar energy. The developed system is also able to keep track of vehicle counts and its advanced versions will also calculate the load of the vehicle. Artificial intelligence and machine learning supports the system to improve traffic management, road use, traffic flow on single line tunnels, and restricted areas. According to Uday, after sufficient data collection, predictions on traffic jams, increased flows and diversion alerts can be generated. Apart from being mechanical, the team claims that the developed system can work in any weather, including rain, snow, fog, and other low-visibility conditions, and that the data can be encrypted and shared with only the appropriate stakeholders. Amudhan Muthaiah from the Electrical Engineering department, Naman Chaudhary and Shishir Asthana from the Mechanical Engineering department, and Nidhika Kadela from the Civil Engineering department made up the rest of the team. Image Source Also read: Mumbai-Pune zero fatality corridor reduces accidents by 52%